Hi all, currently I have a thermal switch sitting at the bottom radiator hose, I think my switch is gone and the thermal fan is not operating causing the car to over heat. So now I wired the connection so that the fan is constantly on when the engine is running. I am not sure if I should get the same switch as they don't seem to be reliable. Does anyone had any suggestion what type of new thermal switch I should be getting? Would a late rover thermal switch fit in an older Mini? After market is ok.

Shouldnt the thermal switch be placed in the upper rad hose?

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http://www.youtube.com/user/Hanras

The factory put the switch in the bottom hose because:
1. At the bottom is the better place for it, and
2. Thats where the room is.

But at the bottom its reading cooled water temps. One adjustable temp thermatic switch type from Repco barely worked in the lower hose of my mates Monaro. Worked a lot better in the top hose and actually had control over what temp the thermo's kicked in.

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http://www.youtube.com/user/Hanras

So the best location for the thermal switch should at the top radiator hose? So REPCO is the the place for this thermal switch?

Rapeco do stock an adjustable temp thermatic switch, yes. The probe is slipped in into the upper hose, and has an knob that can adjust the point at which the switch closes, it should then should then be wired to the control pin of a relay to switch the fan on once the desired temp is reached.

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http://www.youtube.com/user/Hanras

do these temp probes just slip under the hose where is gets clamped onto the rad/thermostat housing?

sounds nice and easy.. a little too easy!

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tim
68 Deluxe 1293, HIF44, megajolt/EDIS4, daihatsu alternator..

'a mini is for life, not just for christmas!'

The capillary tube goes in under the rubber of the top hose and the sensor fits inside the hose. They normally come with a little piece of shaped rubber that helps provide a seal.

Pete

Yep it is easy. The process is mentioned above.

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http://www.youtube.com/user/Hanras

The idea of the fan thermo switch being placed in the bottom tank is so that when the radiator is overwhelmed by the amount of heat going into it, the fan will turn on.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

We found with my mates Monaro that has a 16in thermo fan and a PWR radiator for his 383 Chev, if we fitted the probe in the lower hose, the temp gauge would go almost over 100 deg by the time the thermo kicked in even with the thermatic switch set to its coldest setting. The temp gauge is plumbed into the thermostat housing. We found that by fitting the probe in the top hose we now had a heck of a lot more control over when the thermo fan kicked in.

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http://www.youtube.com/user/Hanras

I've got one of those repco branded switches in the bottom hose (no leaks either). I have the knob turned about 1/4 of the way around and it keeps the engine temp around 75-80°C.

I primarily put the switch & fan in to warm my car up (previously sat on 70°C with engine fan). It works nicely and wouldn't let the temp get over 85°C even on a hot day. I am very happy with it in the bottom hose. It also doesn't stay on for long periods either.

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"In two years time your car will be like a lady's clothes, out of date, my car will still be in fashion when I am dead" - Sir Alec speaking to Pininfarina

I have a Rover bottom switch in my car and it seems to work fine. I also have a backup switch on centre console just in case.

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1964 Morris 850, 1330 Supercharged - 81.8hp atws.
1975 Leyland Mini S 1100S powered - Nice and reliable.
1977 Leyland Mini LS - Project LS-T

Here is my version using a Tridon Thermo switch mounted in the bottom of a Rover Mini rad and a 9 inch electric fan which pulls through. All bolted together for very easy removal and an overide switch fitted. Fan comes on at 85c. Tridon make a whole range of switches in all sorts of temp incremates.

I had a rad shop braise the switch in using a nut as a mount. I tested the Rover thermo switch and found it not to come on until about 95c so i got rid of it and its weird push fit rubber seal.

Cheers.

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Now with 2 extra ports!

I just found online instructions on the install of that adjustable thermatic switch we used on my mates monaro. It was a Davies Craig brand bought from Rapeco.

The opening line says this:

"When the engine is cold remove the top radiator hose at the radiator end"

http://www.daviescraig.com.au/documents ... ctions.pdf

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http://www.youtube.com/user/Hanras